File photo: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has slammed the Karnataka government for filing appeal in the Supreme Court against her acquittal in the disproportionate assets case. She had said there was no mathematical error in the High court judgment acquitting her.
In her reply filed in the Supreme Court today following a notice from the top court, Ms Jayalalithaa said Karnataka had no right to file the appeal.
"Karnataka had no role except appointing the Public Prosecutor in the case and Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Vigilance of Tamil Nadu being the prosecuting agency, has the right to file the appeal," the affidavit read.
Ms Jayalalithaa -- who had been charged with amassing assets worth Rs 66 crore disproportionate to her income during the 90s -- was acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in May. The verdict had allowed her to return as the Chief Minister, following a three-week incarceration in jail.
The court had said her illegal wealth comprised only 8% of her known sources of income, well within the permissible limit of 10%. The prosecution had alleged that her acquittal was based on "deeply flawed math".
The chief minister claimed there was no mathematical error in the High court judgment.
"The loans received are based on documents and the judgment had discussed in detail the loans advanced to the accused/firms," the affidavit read. "Even assuming without admitting that there are certain mistakes in calculation, there will not be any change in the judgment of acquittal."
The prosecution had claimed that the court had miscalculated the amount of her loans, putting it at Rs. 24 crore instead of Rs. 11 crore, which had brought down the quantum of her assets, which were disproportionate to her income by 76%.
On June 23, the Karnataka government moved the top court, calling her acquittal "a farce".